Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-06-19
INHOsPITABLE LIBERIA.
A D~iscouraging Picture of Life on the Ar
rican Coast.

INHOsPITABLE LIBERIA.
A D~iscouraging Picture Of Life on the Ar
rican Coast.
DR.. Ralph w. Perry whose recent
return from Liberia has been noted, is
still bleached, a. q result of his long
wrestle with Africa or coast fever, but
he is gradually recovering his former
vigor and he proposes to begin the
practise Of medicine in this city. He
had q rich and varied experience on
the African coast, and not even the
ambition TO save q heather from end.
less torment will win him back. He
went out In the employ Of the Episco-
pal Mission Board, TO be In charge of
the hospital, and VI the two VINO &C
companied him one died Of coast fever
within three weeks after arrival,
while the other was driven insane
from q similar cause. Monrovia is the
capital Of Liberia, being named in
hohOr Of President Monroe, of this
country. and it is a town of about 5000
people. of which number eleven are
white and the remainder Of mixed
blood, but largely native. The bust
less of the town Is In the hands Of lees
than q hundred persons, and the re-
mainder Of tho population lives off
them. Common labor is poorly re.
munerated. There is no plantation
work save In the coffee picking season
and the negros who were exported
from the south some years ago lead
shiftless and forlorn Elves, not much
improved upon the native black.
There 10 no money. and In payment
Of Whatever labor there is TO do, the
laborer 10 compelled TO take out the
price In whatever 10 offered him.
Flour costing 81 per barrel In New
York, retails at SIS per barrel; muslin
Of ordinary quality. twenty-five cents
per yard; milk the same price per
pint. and small pints as that. and eve
rything else in proportion. The steam.
shis interests are controlled by Belgian
and German firms, and the agents that
are sent TO Liberia to look after their
commercial affairs are under contract
to remain three years; but few last
that long. No white man escapes An
attack of African fever. II seized Per-
ry after he had been there but q short
time, but thanks to q sturdy consti-
he vas able to fight Off he first
attack, and second and third, but IL
kept returning every month or two.
until 1t finally wore him out. Its
are very much like the Or
binary yellow fever Of the south, but
unlike the yellow fever, the fact that q
man has 1t once lie no guarantee that
he is not liable to have continued at
tacks of ii.
The mission at Monrovia is In charge
os the Rev. Mr.. Ferguson, who Is not
only q missionary but also q bishop,
and he has some twenty assistants,
who are stationed at Monrovia and
other points. The mission was estab.
lished in 1882, and II Is maintained at
about a yearly cost Of $4,000, and DIR.
Perry doubts II the conversions pu to
dad exceed 500. 1t Is not q pleasant
country in which to live, even for =
native, and q white msn migrating to
Its inhospitable shore. although the
doctor did not say 80 In 30 man words,
might rs well leave all hope behind.
Bishop Ferguson Ii a colored man and
this accounte for his strong tenacity to
life.
There are two $50 Of the year,
dry and wet. but Perry failed TO no
tice much difference between the wet
and dry, unless IL was that In the wet
1t rained day and night, while
In the dry II only rained at night.
The wet eason 10 the healthlest. be-
cause 1t is the coolest, and the temper.
allure during the day ranges from 90
to 100 degrees. Only once during his
stay OF ten months, however, did Il
drop to 90 degrees, and then II felt
cold enough to don flannels and over
coat. The trip coming and going from
New York Is made by sailing vessels
and usually occupies forty-five days